The Steelers signed Watkins to the practice squad Friday.
Watkins wasn't able to make Pittsburgh's 53-man roster in a depth wide receiver role, but he'll stick around on the practice squad. The Steelers have just five wide receivers on the active roster, and with third-round rookie Roman Wilson nursing an ankle injury, Watkins has a chance of being elevated for Week 1 against the Falcons.
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Quez Watkins: Released by Steelers
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The Steelers released Watkins on Tuesday.
It's not a great sign for his career prospects that he couldn't win a roster spot with one of the most WR-needy teams in the league. Watkins spent much of the past four years as Philadelphia's No. 3 receiver, but it was never a high-volume role and he maxed out at 62 targets in 2021.
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Steelers' Quez Watkins: Targeted once in preseason loss
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Watkins failed to secure his lone target while rushing once for six yards during Saturday's 9-3 preseason loss to the Bills.
Watkins was on the field for 53 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps Saturday, but he didn't see many touches during the low-scoring loss. He didn't have any offensive touches during last weekend's preseason opener, and he could have to put together a productive outing during next Saturday's preseason finale against Detroit to bolster his case for a spot on the 53-man roster.
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Steelers' Quez Watkins: Joining Pittsburgh
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Watkins is signing with the Steelers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
A 2020 sixth-round pick, Watkins made 25 starts for Philadelphia over the past four seasons but never saw more than 62 targets in a year. His 4.35 speed is his best trait, and he'll now join a Steelers team with only George Pickens entrenched as a starting wide receiver. Pittsburgh's other options at the position include Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, Denzel Mims and Marquez Callaway, with more help possibly coming during the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Numbers dip in fourth pro season
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Watkins finished the 2023 regular season with 15 catches for 142 yards and one touchdown.
Watkins averaged 38 catches for 501 yards over the previous two seasons, so his 2023 campaign counts as a clear disappointment. Hamstring issues limited him to nine games, but he also faced new competition from Olamide Zaccheaus and Julio Jones, which cut into a target share which was always going to be modest with A.J. Brown (knee) and DeVonta Smith on the roster.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Another game with no catches
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Watkins did not record a reception in Monday's loss to the Seahawks.
Watkins was on the field for more than half the Eagles' offensive snaps, but Jalen Hurts looked his way just once and failed to complete the pass. Watkins has now gone catchless two weeks in a row and in four of his seven games in total this season.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: No catches in loss to Cowboys
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Watkins was held without a target in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys.
Watkins has appeared in six games for the Eagles this season and has gone catch-less three times. He wasn't the only Eagle who struggled to make an impact Week 14, as Jalen Hurts completed just 18 passes, all of which went to A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith or Dallas Goedert.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Nabs three receptions Sunday
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Watkins caught three of four targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 42-19 loss to the 49ers.
Watkins got involved in his second game back from a hamstring injury after not being targeted in last week's win over Buffalo. The 25-year-old finished a distant third in wide-receiver targets behind A.J. Brown (13) and DeVonta Smith (11). Watkins figures to serve a similar role when the Eagles visit the Cowboys in Week 14 for Sunday Night Football.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Returning in Week 12
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Watkins (hamstring) is active for Sunday's game against the Bills.
The fourth-year pro will be stepping on the field for the first time since Week 5 following a stint on injured reserve. During Watkins' time on the shelf, the Eagles inked multi-time Pro Bowler Julio Jones to operate as the No. 3 receiver, and although the veteran hasn't ben asked to do much behind starters A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, he could prevent Watkins from reclaiming his prior role for at least Sunday's contest.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Placed on IR
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The Eagles placed Watkins (hamstring) on injured reserve Saturday.
Watkins returned from a two-game absence last Sunday and logged 65 percent of Philadelphia's offensive snaps against the Rams, recording two catches on three targets for four yards. However, he appears to have aggravated his hamstring injury and will now need to sit out at least four contests. Olamide Zaccheaus will likely get another opportunity to work as the Eagles' No. 3 receiver while Watkins is sidelined.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Will miss second consecutive game
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Watkins (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Watkins will miss a second consecutive game, though at least he managed to practice in a limited fashion both Thursday and Friday. Olamide Zaccheaus took advantage of Watkins' absence in Week 3 against the Buccaneers, racking up 58 yards and a touchdown as the team's third wide receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Watkins' next chance to play will come in Week 5 against the Rams.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Fails to practice Wednesday
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Watkins (hamstring) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated injury report.
Watkins has yet to practice since injuring his hamstring during the Eagles' Week 2 win over the Vikings. He'll have two more chances to put himself in a position to return to action Sunday against the Commanders, but if Watkins needs more time to recover, Philadelphia will continue to operate with Olamide Zaccheaus as its third wide receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Out against Tampa Bay
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Watkins (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Monday's contest against the Buccaneers.
Watkins wasn't able to practice all week, so it's not entirely surprising to see him ruled inactive for Monday's matchup. Expect Olamide Zaccheaus to see a significant bump in playing time, specifically in three-wideout sets.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Officially DNP on Thursday
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Watkins (hamstring) didn't practice Thursday.
Watkins left Week 2 early with a hamstring strain and never returned. In his place, veteran Olamide Zaccheaus ran 18 routes as the slot receiver but wasn't targeted against the Vikings. With the Eagles playing Monday night, Watkins has an extra day to heal up.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Not practicing to begin Week 3 prep
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Watkins (hamstring) wasn't taking part in drills during the media-access portion of Thursday's practice, Josh Tolentino of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Watkins is thus poised to go down as a non-participant on the Eagles' first Week 3 injury report, though the wideout was spotted catching footballs from a JUGS machine on the side field during Thursday's session, according to Tolentino. The fourth-year wideout was limited to just 11 snaps in the Eagles' Week 2 win over the Vikings last Thursday after exiting the game early with the hamstring injury. The Eagles will hope that Watkins will be able to increase his practice activity the next two days, but if the 25-year-old is unable to play Monday at Tampa Bay, Olamide Zaccheaus would step in as the Eagles' No. 3 wideout.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Won't return Thursday
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Watkins has been ruled out for the rest of Thursday's game against the Vikings due to a hamstring injury, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com reports.
Watkins suffered the injury in the first half and has not returned to the game since. He was spotted briefly jogging on the sideline, but he apparently is not well enough to return. Positively for Watkins, the Eagles have 10 days off prior to their next game, so he may be able to return without any additional missed time. Olamide Zaccheaus is expected to take over duties in the slot for Philadelphia.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Suffers hamstring injury
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Watkins is questionable to return to Thursday's game against Minnesota due to a hamstring injury, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com reports.
Watkins exited the game in the second quarter and was spotted running on the sideline to test the injury. Olamide Zaccheaus took over as the slot receiver and figures to take on a larger role if Watkins is sidelined for any significant amount of time.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: All set for Week 1
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Watkins (hamstring) wasn't listed on the Eagles' injury report released Wednesday.
Olamide Zaccheaus also was excluded from the report after he had dealt with a shoulder injury during the second half of August. Watkins and Zaccheaus have been battling for the Eagles' No. 3 receiver role, but Watkins appears to be the favorite to keep the No. 3 job, at least to begin the season. However, a timeshare between the two receivers wouldn't be surprising as Watkins and Zaccheaus handle what profiles as a lightly targeted role so long as AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith stay healthy.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Easing back in
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Watkins (hamstring) will be limited in practice Tuesday, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Watkins has been dealing with the injury for a couple of weeks now. Although it's good news he's able to get on the practice field, it is concerning that he doesn't appear to yet be fully recovered. With that said, Week 1 is still just under three weeks away, so the 25-year-old has plenty of time to get healthy.
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Eagles' Quez Watkins: Tending to hamstring issue
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Coach Nick Sirianni said Watkins didn't play in Saturday's 20-19 preseason loss at Baltimore due to a hamstring injury, Tim McManus of ESPN.com reports.
While A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith were among Eagles starting offensive players that were DNPs, Watkins' absence was due to a health concern along with Britain Covey (hamstring) and Deon Cain (ankle). Greg Ward did see the field Saturday but made an early exit due to cramps. Watkins seems secure in his role as Philadelphia's No. 3 WR, but the current issue could allow newcomer Olamide Zaccheaus to make inroads on the job.
